Turning CO2 emissions from the process industry to feedstock (Processes4Planet partnership) (IA)

The proposals submitted under this topic are expected to demonstrate the economic viability of the efficient capture and utilisation of CO/CO2 streams from point sources (e.g. large and medium industrial installations such as steel, cement, refining and chemical plants) converting the streams into added value chemicals and materials in near to production size systems. The technologies proposed should support cross-sectorial concepts and sector integration.

The semi-industrial scale demonstrators[[at a scale that allows to take economical and technical decisions for a First of a kind (FOAK) plant.]] proposed should:

• Process significant amounts of CO/CO2 containing emissions from energy intensive process industries;
• Demonstrate process and cost efficient environmentally friendly technologies for: capture[[ Including, for example, use of waste heat in scrubbers, increased mass transport in intensified scrubbers, electrified systems with promising novel materials and equipment design. These are just illustrative examples.]] and fit for purpose purification approaches[[Including, for example, advanced membranes and environmentally friendly absorbents for cleaning formulations, compression, drying, concentration, Pressure Swing Adsorption etc.). These are just illustrative examples.]] while ensuring the maximum process efficiency;
• Demonstrate the cost efficient environmentally friendly conversion of CO/CO₂ into chemicals and materials including any relevant auxiliary required for the process (such the formulation of reliable catalyst at the required scale) and if relevant process-integrated downstream products;
• Evaluate the energy efficiency for the overall CCU process and where relevant flexibility considerations for the efficient use of renewable energy for capture and conversion;
• Encompass the use of advanced monitoring and control techniques and integration of advanced digital technologies, which enable optimisation of the overall system;
• Contribute to an integration effort to realize fully integrated capture and utilization systems, including the optimization of materials, process interfaces, and ultimately device architectures and to promote maximum energy efficiency;
• Include techno-economic analysis, including social and environmental impact.

The proposals will integrate technologies to make them practically and economically viable in the process industries optimising CAPEX and reducing CO2 abatement costs. This should be demonstrated through at least one realistic use case with demonstrable economic return developed in closed cooperation between CO2 industrial emitters, users and technology providers.

The inclusion of a GHG avoidance methodology[[That should follow Innovation Fund methodology: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2021/call-annex_c_innovfund-lsc-2021_en.pdf]] is recommended and should provide detailed descriptions of baselines and projected emissions reduction.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a strong business case and sound exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination. As a project output a more elaborated exploitation plan should be developed including preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan and financial model) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used (e.g. Innovation Fund, InvestEU, ESIF).

Proposals should build on or seek collaboration with existing projects and develop synergies with other relevant European, national or regional initiatives, funding programmes and platforms and are encouraged to consider the use of their expected outcomes in a wider approach that might benefit the establishment of Hubs for Circularity.

Where synergies are possible with projects from topic HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-02-11, cooperation activities are encouraged.

This topic implements the co-programmed European partnership Processes4Planet.